From the studio’s ongoing efforts to cast up big-ticket films like Akira, All You Need Is Kill, Arthur & Lancelot, Man From UNCLE, Xerxes, Imitation Game and The Twilight Zone, Warner Bros continues to be a go-to place for actors looking for star-making parts in big commercial films. A new Warner Bros project now has the attention of actor reps: Jupiter Ascending, which I’m told will be the next film by Lana and Andy Wachowski, and their first major science fiction action franchise play since The Matrix. Like that trilogy, Jupiter Ascending is an original creation by the duo, and it’s on track to start production by the spring. The studio is now discussing which A-list star to lead the cast while keeping the script and logline under tight wraps.

The Wachowskis are currently among the directors shooting interconnected segments of Cloud Atlas with a cast that includes Tom Hanks, Jim Sturgess and Hugh Grant. They had circulated to financiers a script last spring for a hard R drama they wanted to direct about a gay relationship between a U.S. soldier and an Iraqi, but I understand they had trouble setting it up. Before Cloud Atlas, the siblings hadn’t directed a film since the 2008 misfire Speed Racer. Still, nobody forgets about their last original creation, the groundbreaking Maxtix trilogy, and the $1.6 billion worldwide gross turned in by the three films. So all eyes will be on Jupiter Ascending as it gets off the ground. It’s also worth remembering how the reps of Keanu Reeves smartly made a deal for two Matrix sequels that called for $30 million against 15% of first dollar gross. Reeves burned through that advance on the first of those two films, and got 15% of first dollar gross on a final film that grossed $427 million worldwide. My recollection is that Reeves earned between $100 million and $200 million, and closer to the latter figure for the trilogy. Those were the days!

48 Comments

Apollo • on Oct 20, 2011 9:08 am

“Reeves … got 15% of the finale’s $427 million worldwide gross.” Inaccurate in every respect — too high in that it’s 15% of studio gross receipts, not box office gross (so it’s more like 15% of $200M for that part), and too low in that theatrical revenues are only a small piece of the studio revenues from worldwide sources.

Get in the business, Fleming!

DavidS • on Oct 29, 2011 5:17 pm

Good post.

“15% of first dollar gross” is nearly as subjective as 15% of “net profits.”

It pays to remember that Hollywood accountants are often more creative than the talent.

Let's Get Real • on Oct 20, 2011 9:13 am

Okay, the first Matrix was a good movie.

But the latter two, despite their grosses, were utterly incoherent garbage. Clearly these two filmmakers did not surround themselves with anyone who had the intelligence and/or courage to tell them that every line, every beat, every shot of those two films barely made sense– and reeked of pretense.

And then comes the epic flop known as SPEED RACER.

And somehow these two get the keys to the mansion again?

Only in Hollywood can people fail repeatedly and keep getting shots. Try that with your own pad at say a hedge fund, or in sports, and your power and fee and opportunities will dwindle, if not evaporate altogether.

Yet in Hollywood, once you’re in and had a hit, the desperate-for-a-hit “creative” execs will give you hundreds of millions to play with and likely waste.

It’s a deeply flawed industry and system that can read the scripts of Matrix 2, Matrix 3, and Speed Racer and say, “Brilliant, here’s a few hundred million in budget + marketing…”

Fan • on Oct 20, 2011 9:20 am

Totally agree. Matrix was excellent. The sequels were so bad, they spoiled my goodwill towards the first film. Speed Racer was garbage. And yet here they go again.

Anonymous • on Oct 20, 2011 9:22 am

Not to get all “occupy” but Wall Street has the exact same “fail upward” mentality. An exec can run a company into the ground and wind up as an obscenely paid member of the board of a bunch of other huge companies. Not to mention the gigundus tax-payer funded bonuses. That’s like free money for those guys.

Hey, waitaminute!

yes • on Oct 20, 2011 4:11 pm

Very true. OP’s contrast with Wall Street is completely wrong.

samuel • on Oct 20, 2011 9:34 am

Actually, the same thing happens on Wall Street where prominent money managers blow up their mutual funds again and again, and investors can’t wait to hand over money.

Must be something about human nature where once a certain spectacular level of success is achieved people don’t forget even with spectacular failures.

Zach • on Oct 20, 2011 9:38 am

I was going to write up a detailed email, but I read your post and it’s like you read my mind.

Let’s be clear: The original “Matrix” was a masterpiece but it was also a bit of a fluke in that part II and III were disastrous. The only reason why those followups did well was because of the loyalty and love for the original.

Everything else the Wachowskis have done after “The Matrix” trilogy was terrible – both in quality and in box office totals.

(I don’t know if the rumors of the story of “The Matrix” was stolen are true, but the fact that it was so different in theme and quality to anything that the Wachowskis have done before or after makes it very plausible.)

Sophia • on Oct 20, 2011 5:08 pm

That’s a myth. I thought the writer had won the lawsuit but it’s not true.

This sounds very interesting; original Wachowski ideas are always unique. The Matrix sequels were no worse than Transformer or Pirates sequels. Once the studio and producers realize they have something big they tend to micromanage the sequels to death.

@Let’s Get Real – It happens in sports too – look at how many retread head coaches with losing records there are in the NFL, NBA, and MLB.

I thought Speed Racer had a fun movie in there somewhere – just needed to be about 35 minutes shorter.

Let's Get Real • on Oct 20, 2011 10:32 am

True, failing upward does happen in other industries– I just meant that I have seen at least some firsthand examples of poor performance in other industries resulting in career damage.

In sports, in finance, we have all seen guys blow it and pay a price. Look at CJ Wilson hurting his free agent stock right now by not killing it in the postseason.

Whereas in Hollywood, it just seems to me like time and time again flops have no deleterious effect whatsoever on the players. Perhaps in bruised ego momentarily, but not in terms of their ability to secure more lucrative employment. It’s like one hit makes people bulletproof. No accountability. Everyone wants to trumpet their hits but everyone goes eerily silent about flops.

Maybe recent epic flops like Green Lantern and C&A and Abduction will have some ramifications on the players involved there; time will tell.

Ed • on Oct 20, 2011 9:58 am

The Wachowski brothers/siblings haven’t made a good movie since the first Matrix. In fact, it’s their only good movie. So who cares?

bobweaver • on Oct 20, 2011 10:11 am

Lana?

Only in Hollywood • on Oct 20, 2011 10:41 am

Larry had a sex change and now goes by Lana

Interesting choice • on Oct 20, 2011 11:39 am

Maybe s/he was a huge Smallville fan.

Jeff • on Oct 20, 2011 10:19 am

Whoa, whoa, whoa. These guys wrote The Matrix, Bound and V For Vendetta. And whether you like the other two Matrix movies or not is irrelevant, the made money.

They have earned all of their success and anyone who would say anything else is a sad fool.

Let’s also keep in mind that Matrix isn’t just a masterpiece, it’s one of the best movies ever made.

Fan • on Oct 20, 2011 10:48 am

That the sequels made money was down to the goodwill built up by the first film, and the skill of Warner’s marketing department who succeeded in hoodwinking people into seeing two of the most expensive polished turds of all time. And I think Alan Moore might disagree with your assertion that the Wachowkis wrote V for Vendetta – they adapted an exceptional graphic novel. Their success, such as it is, is built on very shaky foundations.

They merely adapted V For Vendetta. Credit goes to Alan Moore for original idea. Neither was the Matrix totally original – credit should be given to Grant Morrison based on his “The Invisibles” DC/Vertigo series.

~

Coat

Ahem • on Oct 20, 2011 11:40 am

Alan Moore wrote V for Vendetta. They just bastardized it.

Patrick • on Oct 20, 2011 12:29 pm

Uh. No. THE MATRIX is a mildly entertaining action movie using special effects that were at the time revolutionary and are now overused, and lifting some interesting notions from some earlier comic books and science fiction stories that lots of people unfamiliar with science fiction felt were “mindblowing” or “deeply philosophical.” It was undeniably a smash hit, but as far as quality filmmaking goes, it was just so-so.

I actually like the ideas introduced in the second movie more. (The movie itself is another matter.) And the third was absolute garbage. Worst movie I saw in 2003, and when I stumbled across it the next year on cable, it became the worst movie I (partially) saw in 2004.

Ronnie Pudding • on Oct 20, 2011 10:40 am

Speed Racer was their best movie — inarguable fact — but only smart people seemed to get it.

I have no problem being in that camp.

Kenny Cather • on Oct 20, 2011 12:07 pm

Speed Racer didn’t require intelligence to “get.” it just required either a high tolerance for boredom or a smug satisfaction of liking something everyone else was bored by.

Let's Get Real • on Oct 20, 2011 10:41 am

We’re all entitled to our opinion. I thought Vendetta stunk. I thought Bound was just okay.

I think the claim that Matrix is “one of the best movies ever made” is very debatable. Where does one draw the line? At 100 best, 20 best?

Citing the Matrix II & III’s profits as proof of their quality is specious reasoning; the success of those two films was based largely on goodwill people had lingering for the first installment.

Just because a film made money doesn’t mean it was good in terms of the story, the dialogue, the acting, etc.

Let's Get Real • on Oct 20, 2011 10:42 am

I do agree they earned their successes.

They also earned their failures.

There should be consequences for both.

Gojo • on Oct 20, 2011 10:55 am

“Nobody forgets about their last original creation, the groundbreaking Maxtix trilogy”… heh, I see what you did there.

ConfusedByYou • on Oct 20, 2011 11:32 am

I was not a fan of Speed Racer, but applaud the Wachowskis for attempting to make a movie that was unique and original. So many of you spend all your time here complaining about the creative void in Hollywood. Yet the Wachowskis always try to do something different. These guys should be given more chances at bat to bring some vision and originality to the screen–even if sometimes they fail.

sosgemini • on Oct 20, 2011 11:32 am

In today’s day and age, we should respect our trasngender brothers and sisters and use proper gender identifiers so, yes “siblings” or Lana.

Anonymous • on Oct 20, 2011 12:37 pm

Is it a shock that many Hollywood Honchos operate like Wall Street Execs, when the studios keep recruiting MBAs to run a business that should be helmed by people with a knack for story?

We need older story vets and showrunners installed as studio and network chiefs, instead of these young Business School turks who want to play in a really cool sandbox they largely don’t understand.

Dave R • on Oct 20, 2011 12:40 pm

Speed racer was an excellent film, really. The tone, style and hyper action pieces was exactly like the cartoon from the 1960’s. They just juiced it up for this generation.

A Great Effort!

Anonymous • on Oct 20, 2011 12:44 pm

SPEED RACER WAS AMAZING AND SOOOOOOO UNDERRATED! I agree with a few of you here. It was fantastic.

dman • on Oct 20, 2011 12:45 pm

so much anger… so much jealousy here… it’s funny people… pathetic and funny

How It Goes • on Oct 20, 2011 1:34 pm

Clearly a number of the readers have not experienced success. A success counts – no matter what. Failure counts too, but you can go back to the people with the finances and say “Mistakes were made but now I know better.” new mistakes can be made and even the same ones, but producers would rather bet on someone with success and failure than someone with no failures but no success either. In this case bad credit is still better than no credit. I’m not saying it’s right. Just the fact. Don’t get interweb rage at the reality of it. You sound like someone who only knows failure.

Walter M. • on Oct 20, 2011 1:44 pm

Totally disagree about Matrix 2.. which yes was bloated and messy but perfectly fun, pulpy sci-fi action. Saw it in the theater 3 times. I must’ve watched that fight scene in the weapons room 40 times, one of the best comic book-y fights ever filmed. And that chase scene on the freeway.. Also loved the Keymaster, Merovingian, and the twins.

Wicked • on Oct 20, 2011 3:37 pm

I have no problem admitting that I liked the second Matrix (not nearly as much as the first, however). It certainly had its (overblown, pretentious) shortfalls, but it was enjoyable for the most part. The third movie, however, was awful and pretentious to -nth degree. The resolution at the end was absurd and insulting to the viewer.

V for Vendetta, it should be noted, was directed by James McTeigue. Not that anyone here mistakenly claimed that the Wachowskis directed it….but no one here has mentioned that they didn’t. That was a surprisingly good movie, though little credit should go to the Wachowskis in my opinion.

Joey • on Oct 21, 2011 4:43 pm

They wrote the screenplay to V and for years there has been rumors that they directed it. Either way they deserve a fair share of credit.

jumjum • on Oct 20, 2011 2:52 pm

Speed Racer wasn’t original any more than the Flintstones movie was original – both were marketing films made to sell toys. Both were embarrassingly, horrifically, egregiously lousy. The W’s lost all credibility with SR.

V was decent, but only because it had a great original story and a budget immense enough to allow for good direction from McTiegue and an amazing cast. That pretty much describes all their good films including the Matrix.

Nothing could save the sequels. Those stories and scripts are poster children for puerile, sophomoric filmmaking. Just have to look at the actors in those film – who were totally directionless – especially Carrie Anne Moss. You can see she is pissed off the whole time, both at the W’s, and herself for knowing the films were bad but taking them anyway because who can say no to multiple 7 figure paydays.

Cmon guys, don't hate • on Oct 20, 2011 6:21 pm

These are the people who wrote The Matrix. THE MATRIX!!!

You can’t in a million years hate on these guys. Yeah, it’s EASILY one of the best movies ever. It’s easily one of the greatest sci-fi movies ever made, easily one of the best action films ever made. It combines two major genres (action and scifi) which makes it one of the best movies ever made.

cmon!! • on Oct 20, 2011 6:22 pm

note the word ‘easily’.

AND they’re coming with original material. Isn’t this what we want more of?!

seriously man. I love a lot of the comments on Deadline, but sometimes a bunch of you really are jealous, bitter people.

I’m with you…
I knew as I was watching the opening scene, with Trinity doing that spin-kick, and them using the 360deg stop-motion effect, that movies had changed forever. The bar had just been set much higher for sci-fi/action flicks.
My jaw still drops to this day, and I’ve seen the movie, well the first 20-40minutes, hundreds of times. First DVD I ever bought- actually when it was released on DVD, that day I bought my first DVD player (back in the days when they were expensive). Every night for years I fell asleep to The Matrix. I’d take my sleeping pills (which were red capsules at the time), and slowly nod off, incorporating the world of the Matrix into my dreams. Sometimes fun, sometimes scary, always interesting.
I haven’t thought of it for awhile, it was something I shared with my (ex)spouse… but I think I’ll go watch it again tonight.

blessedinLA • on Nov 28, 2011 8:41 pm

Ditto for me, dude. I had the same exact experience while viewing the first Matrix movie including that sleep routine thing. It’s like you read my mind!

FunkDubious • on Oct 20, 2011 6:51 pm

Who’d they steal this new idea from?

Erik • on Oct 20, 2011 8:22 pm

Wait…people thought Speed Racer was boring?? That movie was off the chain. The car did mad crazy flips and Christina Ricci looked bangin’. It’s a tentpole; what do you people want? I think it was marketed poorly.

schadenfreude • on Oct 21, 2011 3:52 pm

Let me add to the chorus. Speed Racer was nowhere NEAR as bad as people make out. If you remember the original anime it was super-faithful to the source material. Loved Christina Ricci and they even got Racer X in there. There are just certain movies that it’s “cool” to pile on. If it was some no-name director like “The Smurfs” or “Cats and Dogs” who made Speed Racer, nobody would say shit. Fuck the haters.

DougW • on Apr 17, 2012 11:18 pm

“Speed Racer” is the only movie about a race where you could never tell who was ahead, who was in second, etc. Made it impossible to get involved or care. There’s a good reason sports have leaders and challengers, scores and standings. Without them there’s no drama.